Dissociation Links Maternal History Of Childhood Abuse To Impaired parenting

Williams, Katharina; Moehler, Eva; Kaess, Michael; Resch, Franz; Fuchs, Anna (2022). Dissociation Links Maternal History Of Childhood Abuse To Impaired parenting. Journal of trauma & dissociation, 23(1), pp. 37-51. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/15299732.2021.1934938

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The present study investigated dissociation as a predictor of parenting and a potential mediator in the relationship between early life maltreatment (ELM) and impaired parenting. Mothers reporting moderate to severe sexual and/or physical abuse (assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) formed the maltreatment group (n = 58; MG) and were compared to a non-maltreated comparison group (n = 61; CG) 5 months (T1) and 12 months (T2) postpartum. Dissociative symptoms were assessed with the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) at T1. Parenting was investigated by self-report questionnaires and behavior observation (Emotional Availability Scales; EA) at T2. Higher dissociation scores significantly predicted more self-reported parental bonding impairment and stress, higher physical abuse risk and less observed maternal sensitivity, non-intrusiveness and a lower total EA-score during mother-child interactions (p < .001 to p < .05). Dissociation mediated the associations between ELM and self-reported parenting, but not the associations between ELM and parenting as observed during mother-child interactions. Our results suggest that maternal dissociative symptoms play a distinct role in the intergenerational transmission of adverse childhood experiences and should therefore be targeted in therapeutic interventions provided for victims of physical/sexual childhood abuse and in preventive family programs.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy 04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy > Research Division
UniBE Contributor:	Kaess, Michael
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	1529-9732
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Language:	English
Submitter:	Chantal Michel
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2022 16:59
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:56
Publisher DOI:	10.1080/15299732.2021.1934938
PubMed ID:	34185634
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/162311